Islamic radicalization of Canadian youth raises alarm bells

Trevor Howell, Calgary Herald08.28.2014

Calgarians Farah Shirdon, Collin Gordon, Damian Clairmont and Salman Ashrafi are all reported to have become involved with Islamic terrorist organizations overseas. Clairmont, Ashrafi and Shirdon have all reportedly been killed in conflict. This week a CBC report identified Calgary brothers Collin and Gregory Gordon as having joined the Islamic State, a terrorist organization formerly known as ISIS or ISIL.

Recent revelations that two more Calgary men are now part of a growing list of Canadians involved with Islamic terrorist organizations overseas has led to calls for stronger efforts to curb radicalization within the country.

“When you talk about what is happening in Calgary right now, this is well-entrenched,” said Michael Zekulin, a University of Calgary professor and expert in terrorism and radicalization.

“This not a simple operation where you can go in and remove small bits and pieces ... this is now something that’s a lot bigger,” Zekulin said.

This week, a CBC report identified Calgary brothers Collin and Gregory Gordon as having joined the Islamic State, a terrorist organization also known as ISIS or ISIL.

The pair reportedly disappeared in late 2012 after living in the same downtown Calgary apartment building occupied by Damian Clairmont and Salman Ashrafi, who both joined terrorist groups overseas.

Clairmont, Ashrafi and a third Calgary man, Farah Shirdon, have all reportedly been killed in conflict.

Friends and family members of the Gordon brothers contacted by the Herald Friday declined to comment for this story.

Zekulin said it is difficult to explain what motivates people like the two brothers to join extremely violent groups like the Islamic State.

“The fact is you are dealing with human beings,” he said. “Even if you can ask them they’re not necessarily going to tell you the truth, maybe they don’t even know subconsciously why they’ve made the decision they do.”

What is clear, he added, is that government officials and community groups and leaders need to rapidly develop and enact narratives to counter the efforts of terrorist recruiters.

“The bottom line is if you are interested in something ... and nobody challenges that then it starts to take hold,” said Zekulin.

Not coincidentally, the spectre of homegrown terrorism was a dominant theme in the federal government’s annual national security report, released Friday by Public Safety Canada.

Terrorism remains the principal threat to national security, the report concludes, stressing the need to work with communities to counter insidious recruitment efforts on Canadian soil.

By early 2014, the report notes that at least 130 individuals with Canadian connections were suspected of being involved in terrorism-related activities.

“The government is aware of about 80 individuals who have returned to Canada after travel abroad for a variety of suspected terrorism-related purposes,” according to the report.

City police suspect at least 30 Calgarians have been recruited by foreign terrorist organizations.

Abroad, intelligence and security agencies in the U.K. now believe around 500 Britons have gone to fight in Syria and potentially Iraq. Some of the plots are likely to involve fighters who have travelled from Britain and Europe to take part in fighting in the Middle East.

In 2013, the Canadian government introduced the Combating Terrorism Act, which created new criminal offences for leaving or attempting to leave Canada for the purposes of committing certain terrorism offences abroad.

Meanwhile, the RCMP are developing a Countering Violent Extremism program to coordinate with local police departments, as well as national and international stakeholders to prevent individuals from engaging in terrorist activity.

Further, the program will include educating Canadians on the role of law enforcement and the responsibilities that they, in turn, have in safeguarding Canada, said RCMP Sgt. Greg Cox.

“Similar to any successful crime prevention strategy, community based policing and partnerships are essential,” Cox said in an e-mail to the Herald.

“Grassroots engagement will build trust, provide awareness of risks and vulnerabilities, educate partners about resources available to assist individuals at risk, and enhance the shared responsibility.”

In September, Muslim organizations from Calgary will host a four-day conference, OWN IT 2014, aimed at strengthening partnerships with law enforcement and government agencies, develop partnerships with researchers and connect people with mentors.

“The narrative that we have is a comprehensive narrative that involves prevention, interruption and rehabilitation,” said Madhi Qasqas, president of 3OWN, the organization behind the upcoming summit.

Day 1 of the summit will focus on how various stakeholders can improve efforts to prevent criminal radicalization of youth through empowerment.

“We can’t go back in time, but we can predict certain signs and respond accordingly, the same way we deal with mental health issues, gang involvement and diseases.”

“It’s one thing to say, “Well, five kids left from Calgary.’ That’s correlation,” said Qasqas. “Causation is what we want to look at. What is causing this to happen if we’re going to deal with it?”

Calgary Imam Syed Soharwardy, who represents the groups Muslims Against Terrorism and the Islamic Supreme Council of Canada, welcomed the conclusions of the federal government’s new report, but chastised Ottawa for falling short of the necessary effort.

“Early intervention is needed and the government has the resources and the tools to do that,” Soharwardy said.

“Communities, non-profit organizations, Muslims are working whatever they can with their own resources, but definitely it is the government role to support those activities.”

With files from Manisha Krishnan, Calgary Herald and The Canadian Press